Former Football Manager Appointed Ambassador of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra

Guus Hiddink, who has been an honorary citizen of Seoul since 2002, will receive his appointment from Mayor Oh Se-hoon

Guus Hiddink, the Dutch football manager who brought the Korean men's national football team to the semi-finals of the 2002 World Cup, has been appointed as the first Ambassador of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He is the first person to hold the new honorary position.

Hiddink has been appointed to work alongside Seoul Philharmonic Music Director, Jaap van Zweden, with the pair being close friends. In the past, Hiddink has been a strong supporter of the Papageno Foundation, which van Zweden founded to support children with autism.

Hiddink's term will expire in 2028, at the same time as van Zweden's.

"There are many similarities between the soccer team and the orchestra," Hiddink said. "I contacted [Jaap van Zweden] first because I felt that there were many similarities between my work and the conductor after watching his performance on TV many years ago. Since then, we have developed a friendship."

"In particular, we strive to maximize the possibilities of players and performers and constantly practice details to achieve high standards," Hiddink added.

"[Football and music] can move forward together," Jaap van Zweden added. "Everyone plays an important role in uniting people."